Social Media

Just like any technological or social advancement, social media comes with pros and cons. Many believe it to be the source of depression, anxiety, inattentiveness and more. However, when utilized for connecting readers, promoting the library program, offering online tools, and more, social media can be a great tool for librarians.


So which one should you use for your library? I'll be looking at the big 3: Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. I've explored each one through the lens of how it could support the library program.


Facebook

Link to my Facebook


School libraries are using Facebook for…

  • Promoting book events and contests
  • Showing how the library is utilized for school events, not just library events
  • Showcases student work
  • Sharing inspirational book quotes and author stories
  • Sharing book lists, recommendations, and reviews
  • Showcasing use of technology and digital learning tools in the library and classrooms

Twitter
Link to my Twitter

Jim Lerman (@jimlerman) posts articles related to the impact of technology in the classroom, reviews of technology tools, and he seems to have a special interest in the impact of artificial intelligence (Chat GPT, AI-generated art tools, etc.) and how it can best be utilized in the classroom. 

Gwenyth Jones (@gwenythjones) promotes diversity and inclusion on her Twitter. Her posts go beyond just education, but also how to promote and support diversity in roles such as authors, actors, and other creative-types. Several of her links lead to articles dealing with the successes and struggles of diverse groups, which tells me she is very passionate and concerned about the ideas of acceptance and inclusion. 

Globalearner (@globalearner) doesn’t seem to have any content posted.

The Twitter page of Laura Braun (@lbraun2000) seems to have spotlights on information services, how libraries can help in times of crisis, and promotes webinars and online experiences for those interested in library science. Some of the links or retweets on her page seem to be broken or expired, which could definitely give the impression that it hasn’t been updated in a while. Twitter pages for school libraries should maintain up-to-date and working links or risk the chance of portraying the library or librarian as not keeping up with the ever changing library science world. 
 Paul Hankins (@PaulWHankins) is an educator who Tweets often about his classroom, youth literature, and the impact of technology on learning. One of the articles he shares emphasizes the importance of understanding how to integrate these new tools, such as ChatGPT, into the classroom to help students use them more effectively. 

The librarian John Schu (@MrSchuReads) has several thousand followers on Twitter and uses it to promote young adult literature that is relevant and diverse. He also promotes events around the library program that he runs. In his Twitter bio, he links to his various websites. One of them is a blog which seems to expand on his reasons for suggesting books. 

Teri Lesesne has a special interest in education news dealing with equal rights, diversity, inclusion, and the impact of politics on education. Teri also posts inspirational quotes and political memes/cartoons that show her political affiliation. This would definitely not be acceptable on a teacher librarian webpage, as part of being an ethical librarian is not putting your own beliefs and views into the promotion of the library program. She also has a link to her LiveJournal in her bio, but it has not been updated for several years.

Karin Perry uses Twitter to hear about great books and share book reviews. I think she could also include articles about library science and education news, as well as promoting the SHSU library program.

Dr. Elizabeth Gross uses Twitter to share book quotes, author stories, and literary news. She seems to be interested in all things library science, and does a great job varying the type of content she posts. 

Instagram

Instagram is a popular social media site that is used by people of all ages. It is great for sharing images of library events, such as author visits, book talks, book fairs, and more. Not only that, Instagram Live can be utilized to include members virtually in library events as well. Because Instagram has a younger userbase, for schools who serve younger students, it may be more appropriate than social media sites such as Twitter or Facebook.


Big Takeaway
Social media can be harnessed as a benefit to the library program. When selecting which one(s) to utilize, it's important to consider(not an exhaustive list): ease of use, age and diversity of users, and safety. If used correctly, social media can amplify the effectiveness and success of any library program.

Comments

  1. Ms. Garza's Library CornerMay 3, 2023 at 2:56 PM

    Amanda,
    With social media, we are able to do so many things! Getting information across all at once (to the entire world, essentially) with one click of a button is fascinating.
    Thanks for your post.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Jorge PazMay 4, 2023 at 4:19 PM

    It is correct that social media has many uses in the school. I am not a huge fan of social media (keep in mind from a much older generation)--I promote and use it anway, albeit, with some resistance. I prefer Twitter only because I started using this more. I just started an Instagram account out of force, I admit. However, after seeing your infograph perhaps I should use Instagram more as people like to look at it several times per day? Great blog!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Karen KnutsonMay 4, 2023 at 6:19 PM

    I especially like how you included your personal social media sites in your post. That shows that you are already utilizing these tools! Also, looking at charts for the pros and cons made it a little easier to digest that information. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete

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